Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Tom Ptak

  • Associate Professor - Dept of Geography & Environmntl Studies

Biography and expertise

2016 PhD, Department of Geography, University of Oregon
Dissertation—Understanding Hydropower in China, Balancing Energy
Security, Development and Environmental Sustainability in the Nu River
Valley of Yunnan Province

2010 M.A, Department of Geography, University of Oregon

2007 B.Sc. Hons, Macquarie University, Sydney

2006 B.Sc., Macquarie University, Sydney

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Geography

University of Oregon, 2016

Master's Degree

MA in Geography

University of Oregon, 2010

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Ptak, Thomas Walter. Wilson Historic District Energy and Water Conservation Study, Meadows Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $15000. (Funded: 2026 - 2030). Grant.
  • Ptak, Thomas Walter. Multi-Criteria Analysis of Climate-Related Hazards and Compounding Risks for Vulnerable Populations across Central Texas, Division of Research, Texas State University, $6560. (Submitted: 2024, Funded: 2025). Grant.
  • Speed, Jennifer (Principal), Hwang, Sangchul Scott (Co-Principal), Ptak, Thomas Walter (Co-Principal), Yeon, Jung Heum (Co-Principal), Pemberton, Sue Ann (Co-Principal). Wilson Historic District Energy and Water Conservation Study, Meadows Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $150000. (Funded: December 10, 2024 - May 31, 2025). Grant.
  • Ptak, Thomas Walter. New Modes of Energy Security, Charles Koch Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $54000. (Funded: 2020 - 2021). Grant.
  • Ptak, Thomas Walter. Stakeholder Interest Framework for Western United States Irrigation Modernization, United States Geological Survey, Federal, $36069.37. (Funded: 2020). Grant.
View all grants
  • Ptak, T. W., Stock, R., Sareen, S., & Kumar, A. (2026). Poking the dragon! The fiery range of energy geographers’ brea(d)th. Dialogues in Human Geography. https://doi.org/10.1177/20438206261469579
  • Stock, R., & Ptak, T. W. (2026). Destroy to create: Geopolitical ecologies and gendered dispossessions of solar development in Ghana. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space. https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486261425855
  • Ptak, T. W. (2025). A systematic review and typology of power outage literature: Critical infrastructure, climate change and social impacts. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115778
  • Ptak, T. W. (2025). Repositioning energy geographies in a time of crisis: Arguments from a subdiscipline on the margins of geography. Dialogues in Human Geography. https://doi.org/DOI:%2010.1177/20438206251316025
  • Ptak, T. W., Crootof, A., Harlan, T., & Kelly, S. (2022). Critically analyzing the purported global “boom” in small hydropower development through spatial and temporal analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112490
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Energy Luminary Award, Energy and Environment Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers. 2026
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Favorite Professor Award, Alpha Chi Honor Society. 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Most inspirational faculty member, Department of Geography and Geological Sciences, University of Idaho. May 2021
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Recognition Award, Asian Geography Specialty Group. 2016
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Best Panel Award, University of Oregon Graduate School Research Forum. 2015
View all awards
  1. University Mentor

    Renewable Energy Association

  2. Member

    Climate Action Task Force: American Association of Geographers

  3. Member

    Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Energy Policy Institute

  4. Chair

    Alumni Committee

  5. Member

    Graduate Committee

  6. Member

    Associate/Full Professor of Geographic Education Search Committee

  7. View all activities